TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 12:1–8. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
This psalm furnishes us with good thoughts for bad times, in which, though the prudent will keep silent (Amo 5:13) because a man may then be made an offender for a word, yet we may comfort ourselves with such suitable meditations and prayers as are here got ready to our hand.
I.Let us see here what it is that makes the times bad, and when they may be said to be so.
Ask the children of this world what it is in their account that makes the times bad, and they will tell you, Scarcity of money, decay of trade, and the desolations of war, make the times bad. But the scripture lays the badness of the times upon causes of another nature. Ti2 3:1, Perilous times shall come, for iniquity shall abound; and that is the thing David here complains of.
1.When there is a general decay of piety and honesty among men the times are then truly bad (Psa 12:1): When the godly man ceases and the faithful fail. Observe how these two characters are here put together, the godly and the faithful. As there is no true policy, so there is no true piety, without honesty. Godly men are faithful men, fast men, so they have sometimes been called; their word is as confirming as their oath, as binding as their bond; they make conscience of being true both to God and man. They are here said to cease and fail, either by death or by desertion, or by both. Those that were godly and faithful were taken away, and those that were left had sadly degenerated and were not what they had been; so that there were few or no good people that were Israelites indeed to be met with. Perhaps he meant that there were no godly faithful men among Saul's courtiers; if he meant there were few or none in Israel, we hope he was under the same mistake that Elijah was, who thought he only was left alone, when God had 7000 who kept their integrity (Rom 11:3); or he meant that there were few in comparison; there was a general decay of religion and virtue (and the times are bad, very bad, when it is so), not a man to be found that executes judgment, Jer 5:1.
2.When dissimulation and flattery have corrupted and debauched all conversation, then the times are very bad (Psa 12:2), when men are generally so profligate that they make no conscience of a lie, are so spiteful as to design against their neighbours the worst of mischiefs, and yet so base as to cover the design with the most specious and plausible pretences and professions of friendship. Thus they speak vanity (that is, falsehood and a lie) every one to his neighbour, with flattering lips and a double heart. They will kiss and kill (as Joab did Abner and Amasa in David's own time), will smile in your face and cut your throat. This is the devil's image complete, a complication of malice and falsehood. The times are bad indeed when there is no such thing as sincerity to be met with, when an honest man knows not whom to believe nor whom to trust, nor dares put confidence in a friend, in a guide, Mic 7:5, Mic 7:6; Jer 9:4, Jer 9:5. Woe to those who help to make the times thus perilous.
3.When the enemies of God, and religion, and religious people, are impudent and daring, and threaten to run down all that is just and sacred, then the times are very bad, when proud sinners have arrived at such a pitch of impiety as to say, "With our tongue will we prevail against the cause of virtue; our lips are our own and we may say what we will; who is lord over us, either to restrain us or to call us to an account?" Psa 12:4. This bespeaks,
(1.)A proud conceit of themselves and confidence in themselves, as if the point were indeed gained by eating forbidden fruit, and they were as gods, independent and self-sufficient, infallible in their knowledge of good and evil and therefore fit to be oracles, irresistible in their power and therefore fit to be lawgivers, that could prevail with their tongues, and, like God himself, speak and it is done.
(2.)An insolent contempt of God's dominion as if he had no propriety in them - Our lips are our own (an unjust pretension, for who made man's mouth, in whose hand is his breath, and whose is the air he breathes in?) and as if he had no authority either to command them or to judge them: Who is Lord over us? Like Pharaoh, Exo 5:1. This is as absurd and unreasonable as the former; for he in whom we live, and move, and have our being, must needs be, by an indisputable title, Lord over us.
4.When the poor and needy are oppressed, and abused, and puffed at, then the times are very bad. This is implied (Psa 12:5) where God himself takes notice of the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the needy; they are oppressed because they are poor, have all manner of wrong done them merely because they are not in a capacity to right themselves. Being thus oppressed, they dare not speak for themselves, lest their defence should be made their offence; but they sigh, secretly bemoaning their calamities, and pouring out their souls in sighs before God. If their oppressors be spoken to on their behalf, they puff at them, make light of their own sin and the misery of the poor, and lay neither to heart; see Psa 10:5.
5.When wickedness abounds, and goes barefaced, under the protection and countenance of those in authority, then the times are very bad, Psa 12:8. When the vilest men are exalted to places of trust and power (who, instead of putting the laws in execution against vice and injustice and punishing the wicked according to their merits, patronise and protect them, give them countenance, and support their reputation by their own example), then the wicked walk on every side; they swarm in all places, and go up and down seeking to deceive, debauch, and destroy others; they are neither afraid nor ashamed to discover themselves; they declare their sin as Sodom and there is none to check or control them. Bad men are base men, the vilest of men, and they are so though they are ever so highly exalted in this world. Antiochus the illustrious the scripture calls a vile person, Dan 11:21. But it is bad with a kingdom when such are preferred; no marvel if wickedness then grows impudent and insolent. When the wicked bear rule the people mourn.
II.Let us now see what good thoughts we are here furnished with for such bad times; and what times we may yet be reserved for we cannot tell. When times are thus bad it is comfortable to think,
1.That we have a God to go to, from whom we may ask and expect the redress of all our grievances. This he begins with (Psa 12:1): "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth. All other helps and helpers fail; even the godly and faithful, who should lend a helping hand to support the dying cause of religion, are gone, and therefore whither shall we seek but to thee?" Note, When godly faithful people cease and fail it is time to cry, Help, Lord! The abounding of iniquity threatens a deluge. "Help, Lord, help the virtuous; few seek to hold fast their integrity, and to stand in the gap; help to save thy own interest in the world from sinking. It is time for thee, Lord, to work."
2.That God will certainly reckon with false and proud men, and will punish and restrain their insolence. They are above the control of men and set them at defiance. Men cannot discover the falsehood of flatterers, nor humble the haughtiness of those that speak proud things; but the righteous God will cut off all flattering lips, that give the traitor's kiss and speak words softer then oil when war is in the heart; he will pluck out the tongue that speaks proud things against God and religion, Psa 12:3. Some translate it as a prayer, "May God cut off those false and spiteful lips." Let lying lips be put to silence.
3.That God will, in due time, work deliverance for his oppressed people, and shelter them from the malicious designs of their persecutors (Psa 12:5): Now, will I arise, saith the Lord. This promise of God, which David here delivered by the spirit of prophecy, is an answer to that petition which he put up to God by the spirit of prayer. "Help, Lord," says he; "I will," says God; "here I am, with seasonable and effectual help." (1.) It is seasonable, in the fittest time. [1.] When the oppressors are in the height of their pride and insolence - when they say, Who is lord over us? - then is God's time to let them know, to their cost, that he is above them. [2.] When the oppressed are in the depth of their distress and despondency, when they are sighing like Israel in Egypt by reason of the cruel bondage, then is God's time to appear for them, as for Israel when they were most dejected and Pharaoh was most elevated. Now will I arise. Note, There is a time fixed for the rescue of oppressed innocency; that time will come, and we may be sure it is the fittest time, Psa 102:13. (2.) It is effectual: I will set him in safety, or in salvation, not only protect him, but restore him to his former prosperity, will bring him out into a wealthy place (Psa 66:12), so that, upon the whole, he shall lose nothing by his sufferings.
4.That, though men are false, God is faithful; though they are not to be trusted, God is. They speak vanity and flattery, but the words of the Lord are pure words (Psa 12:6), not only all true, but all pure, like silver tried in a furnace of earth or a crucible. It denotes,
(1.)The sincerity of God's word, every thing is really as it is there represented and not otherwise; it does not jest with us, not impose upon us, nor has it any other design towards us than our own good.
(2.)The preciousness of God's word; it is of great and intrinsic value, like silver refined to the highest degree; it has nothing in it to depreciate it.
(3.)The many proofs that have been given of its power and truth; it has been often tried, all the saints in all ages have trusted it and so tried it, and it never deceived them nor frustrated their expectation, but they have all set to their seal that God's word is true, with an Experto crede - Trust one that has made trial; they have found it so. Probably this refers especially to these promises of succouring and relieving the poor and oppressed. Their friends put them in hopes that they will do something for them, and yet prove a broken reed; but the words of God are what we may rely upon; and the less confidence is to be put in men's words let us with the more assurance trust in God's word.
5.That God will secure his chosen remnant to himself, how bad soever the times are (Psa 12:7): Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. This intimates that, as long as the world stands, there will be a generation of proud and wicked men in it, more or less, who will threaten by their wretched arts to ruin religion, by wearing out the saints of the Most High, Dan 7:25. But let God alone to maintain his own interest and to preserve his own people. He will keep them from this generation,
(1.)From being debauched by them and drawn away from God, from mingling with them and learning their works. In times of general apostasy the Lord knows those that are his, and they shall be enabled to keep their integrity.
(2.)From being destroyed and rooted out by them. The church is built upon a rock, and so well fortified that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. In the worst of times God has his remnant, and in every age will reserve to himself a holy seed and preserve that to his heavenly kingdom.
In singing this psalm, and praying it over, we must bewail the general corruption of manners, thank God that things are not worse than they are, but pray and hope that they will be better in God's due time.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
3 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
When you care for us, even if we are abandoned among those guilty of hostility and scheming, we emerge superior on account of the care of the Most High.
"The ungodly walk in a circle round about" [Psalm 12:8]: that is, in the desire of things temporal, which revolves as a wheel in a repeated circle of seven days; and therefore they do not arrive at the eighth, that is, at eternity, for which this Psalm is entitled. So too it is said by Solomon, "For the wise king is the winnower of the ungodly, and he brings on them the wheel of the wicked.— After Your height You have multiplied the sons of men." For there is in temporal things too a multiplication, which turns away from the unity of God. Hence "the corruptible body weighs down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle presses down the mind that muses upon many things." [Wisdom 9:15] But the righteous are multiplied "after the height of God," when "they shall go from strength to strength."
“The wicked walk in a circle” so that they are never able to arrive at the right path, since crooked paths are always associated with bad character.… For this reason, they are not able to attain the rest of the eighth day, for they are always turning backward like wheels.
Continue studying Psalms 12:8 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Psalms 12:8 presents a stark and lamentable portrayal of societal decay, illustrating the profound consequences when moral integrity is compromised at the highest levels. It vividly depicts a world where wickedness flourishes unchecked and permeates every facet of life, precisely because individuals of the lowest character and moral standing are elevated to positions of power and influence. This verse serves as a poignant warning, underscoring the inevitable societal breakdown that follows the exaltation of the wicked, and the pervasive nature of sin when corrupt leadership is allowed to reign.
Context
Literary Context
Psalms 12 is a fervent psalm of lament, attributed to David, expressing deep distress over the pervasive deceit and moral degradation within his society. The psalm opens with a desperate cry to God for help, lamenting the disappearance of the godly and faithful from among humanity, replaced by those who speak falsehoods and flatter with deceptive lips, speaking "with a double heart" (Psalms 12:1-2). David describes the arrogant boasts of those who believe their words are their own power, beyond divine accountability, declaring, "With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" (Psalms 12:3-4). Verse 8, "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted," serves as the climactic and lamentable expression of David's complaint, detailing the dire consequences of such moral inversion. This lament then sets the stage for God's powerful and comforting promise of intervention and protection for the poor and needy in the very next verses (Psalms 12:5-6). The psalm concludes with a renewed plea for divine preservation, contrasting God's pure words, "as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times," with the pervasive wickedness of the age (Psalms 12:7-8).
Historical & Cultural Context
While specific historical events for Psalms 12 are not explicitly provided, the themes resonate powerfully with periods of moral decline in ancient Israel, often associated with corrupt leadership, idolatry, or social injustice. The "exaltation" of "vilest men" could refer to individuals gaining power through manipulation, bribery, or sheer ruthlessness, rather than through merit, integrity, or divine appointment. In ancient Near Eastern societies, leadership was often seen as divinely ordained, and the character of a ruler was believed to directly impact the well-being and moral health of the nation. When corrupt individuals held sway, it implied a profound breakdown in the established moral and judicial order, leading to widespread oppression and a pervasive sense of hopelessness among the righteous. The phrase "walk on every side" suggests a lack of restraint or accountability, implying that the legal and social structures meant to curb evil were either absent or severely compromised, allowing evil to flourish unchecked and without fear of consequence.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of Moral Inversion, where societal values are turned upside down, and those who should be despised for their character are instead honored and given authority. This creates a deeply unsettling environment where righteousness is suppressed and wickedness is emboldened. Secondly, it speaks to the Pervasiveness of Evil, illustrating how corruption at the top inevitably trickles down, affecting every aspect of daily life and making it exceedingly difficult for the righteous to live faithfully. The phrase "walk on every side" vividly depicts this widespread and oppressive influence. Thirdly, the verse underscores the Consequences of Unjust Leadership, demonstrating that when "vilest men are exalted," the natural and lamentable outcome is a society where "the wicked walk on every side." This serves as a stark warning that the character of a nation's leaders directly impacts its moral health and the flourishing of its people, a concept echoed throughout wisdom literature, as seen in Proverbs 29:2, which contrasts the joy under righteous rule with the groaning under wicked governance.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
Derived from a root meaning "to be wrong," this term refers to those who are morally wrong, actively bad, and disobedient to God's law. It encompasses individuals who are guilty, ungodly, and commit acts of injustice. In this context, it describes the pervasive presence of those who deliberately choose evil and operate contrary to divine principles.
This word, though brief in its Strong's definition ("properly, a shaking, i.e. perhaps a tempest; vilest"), conveys a profound sense of moral degradation. It denotes individuals who are contemptible, base, and utterly lacking in integrity. The KJV's "vilest" accurately captures the sense of extreme moral abasement, suggesting persons who are despised or ought to be despised due to their actions and character, bringing a "shaking" or disturbance to society.
This primitive root means "to be high," "to lift up," or "to raise." When applied to "vilest men," it creates a powerful and lamentable juxtaposition. It signifies that those who are morally low and contemptible are nevertheless elevated to positions of power, influence, or public esteem. This "exaltation" is not necessarily a divine act but a societal or political reality, highlighting the tragic irony and profound injustice of the situation where the unworthy are honored.
Verse Breakdown
"The wicked walk on every side,"
This clause vividly describes the pervasive and unhindered activity of those who are morally corrupt and disobedient to God's law. The imagery of "walking on every side" suggests that wickedness is not confined to specific areas but has infiltrated and permeated the entire social fabric. It implies a sense of being surrounded by evil, where the righteous find little refuge or escape from its pervasive influence. This widespread activity indicates a profound lack of accountability and a breakdown of justice, allowing the wicked to operate with impunity, confidence, and without fear of consequence in all spheres of life.
"when the vilest men are exalted."
This second clause provides the crucial causal link to the first, explaining why the wicked are so prevalent and unhindered. The "vilest men" are those of the lowest moral character, utterly contemptible and debased. Their "exaltation" refers to their being lifted up to positions of power, authority, or prominence within society. This elevation of the morally bankrupt directly facilitates and encourages the widespread "walking" of the wicked, as those in power either condone, participate in, or fail to restrain evil. The verse thus highlights a direct and lamentable correlation between corrupt leadership and pervasive societal moral decay.
Literary Devices
Psalms 12:8 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful and lamentable message. The most prominent is Juxtaposition, specifically the stark contrast between "the wicked" who "walk on every side" and "the vilest men" who are "exalted." This highlights the profound moral inversion where those deserving of contempt are given honor, leading to societal chaos and a sense of injustice. The phrase "walk on every side" functions as Hyperbole or Metonymy, suggesting an overwhelming and pervasive presence of evil that seems to encompass everything, rather than a literal physical encirclement. It effectively communicates the feeling of being surrounded and overwhelmed by corruption. The verse also utilizes Cause and Effect, implicitly stating that the exaltation of morally bankrupt individuals is the direct cause of the widespread flourishing of wickedness. This lament, typical of the genre, also carries a strong element of Pathos, evoking a sense of sorrow, frustration, and desperation in the face of rampant injustice and moral decline.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 12:8 speaks profoundly to the biblical themes of justice, governance, and the nature of evil in human society. It laments the inversion of divine order, where those who should be held accountable are instead elevated, leading to a breakdown of moral boundaries and a perversion of justice. This situation underscores humanity's fallen state and the constant struggle between righteousness and wickedness in the world. The psalmist's complaint is not merely a social critique but a theological cry, implicitly appealing to God's ultimate sovereignty and justice in a world seemingly dominated by injustice. It reminds us that God is deeply concerned with the character of leaders and the moral health of nations, and that true peace and flourishing are impossible when corruption reigns. This lament finds echoes throughout Scripture, reflecting the ongoing tension between the present reality of evil and the future hope of God's righteous reign, where His justice will ultimately prevail.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 12:8 serves as a timeless mirror reflecting the challenges faced by believers in any generation where moral standards erode and corrupt leadership gains ascendancy. It calls us to a deep spiritual discernment, recognizing that the exaltation of "vilest men" is not merely a political phenomenon but a profound spiritual crisis that impacts the very fabric of society. This verse compels us to lament the state of the world, to cry out to God for justice, and to refuse to be desensitized to the pervasive nature of evil. It challenges us to be agents of righteousness in our own spheres of influence, living counter-culturally as salt and light in a world that often celebrates what God condemns. While the presence of widespread wickedness can be disheartening and overwhelming, the psalmist's lament ultimately points towards God's promised intervention and unwavering character, reminding us that our ultimate hope is not in human systems or leaders, but in the steadfast love and ultimate sovereignty of the Lord, who will preserve His people and His pure word.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "the wicked walk on every side" mean in a practical sense?
This phrase vividly describes the widespread and unhindered activity of those who are morally corrupt and disobedient to God's law. Practically, it means that wickedness is not confined to specific areas or individuals but has permeated the entire social fabric. It suggests a society where injustice, deceit, and oppression are commonplace, where the righteous face constant pressure and temptation, and where there is little effective restraint against evil. It implies a breakdown of social order and a lack of accountability, allowing the wicked to operate with impunity and confidence in various aspects of life, from commerce to governance to personal interactions, as seen in the lament of Isaiah 5:20.
How does the "exaltation of the vilest men" contribute to this widespread wickedness?
The "exaltation of the vilest men" is presented as the direct cause or catalyst for the widespread "walking" of the wicked. When individuals of the lowest moral character are elevated to positions of power, authority, or prominence, they set a standard of corruption. Their influence can legitimize unrighteous behavior, dismantle systems of justice, and create an environment where integrity is devalued and moral compromise is rewarded. This enables other wicked individuals to act freely, knowing that those in power either condone their actions, participate in similar behaviors, or lack the moral authority and will to restrain them. It creates a top-down effect where societal decay is actively fostered by corrupt leadership, leading to the groaning of the people as described in Proverbs 29:2.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 12:8, with its lament over the pervasive wickedness facilitated by corrupt leadership, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist cries out against the earthly exaltation of "vilest men," the New Testament reveals the ultimate paradox: God chose to exalt His Son, Jesus, who willingly humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross, demonstrating unparalleled obedience and love (Philippians 2:8). Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness in a world where "the wicked walk on every side," ultimately being condemned and executed by the very "vilest men" of His time—corrupt religious and political leaders who chose to exalt a murderer over the sinless Son of God (Matthew 27:15-26). Yet, it was through this ultimate act of injustice and the apparent triumph of the wicked that God's perfect justice and salvation were accomplished. Christ's resurrection and ascension demonstrate that God's answer to the exaltation of the wicked is not merely to bring them down, but to establish an eternal kingdom founded on righteousness, where He Himself is the exalted King, seated at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33). Believers, as citizens of this kingdom, are called to live righteously in a fallen world, knowing that while "the wicked walk on every side" now, Christ will one day return to fully establish His righteous reign, bringing an end to all injustice and corruption, and ushering in new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells (Revelation 21:1-4). Thus, the lament of Psalms 12:8 is transformed into a confident hope in the Christ who has overcome the world and will ultimately set all things right.